"entered rehab and that humbled me, but I still didn't admit that I was an alcoholic. At that point I realised that if I lose my cricket career, so be it ... It was my life that I was trying to get back. Whether I had a career coming back, it didn't matter."

"What’s what makes a good leader, your actions in the present, it’s not always necessary to talk so much, you must lead by example."

"I faced many people that always told me football is not for girls, but it’s not about that, it’s about what I love."

"Every dream has its challenges, and those challenges build you. It’s always about how you get up."

"We have a high fighting spirit. We are consistent and resilient and we want to win. We feel like this is yet another chance for us. My heartfelt gratitude to all the supporters who always come out to watch us play."

"Over the past years it has not been easy being a female footballer because of the whole concept of it being a man sport but now people understand that we too can play football so that pressure has toned down."

"When I look at where netball was when I started and where it is now, the professionalism, the exposure, the opportunities, it’s truly inspiring."

"I was there to save my life, and that was my mentality."

"I’d say my leadership style is calm but intentional. I believe in leading by example, through my work ethic, communication, and consistency. I’m also big on empowerment; I want my teammates to feel trusted and confident to make decisions."

"It is extremely important to be mentally tough."

"I tell myself that what I do now counts for what lies ahead! So not focusing on the future but making sure I give my very best at each task now because later I will reap the rewards."

"The younger generation now sees netball as a career, not just a passion."

"I’ve got something to do on this planet and whatever that purpose is keeps me going."

"Consistency is very important, it builds the team's confidence."

"They have taught me that leadership is never one-size-fits-all. Every person in the team is different; some need encouragement, some need accountability, some just need to be heard. I’ve learned to listen more, to be patient, and to celebrate others’ strengths."

"I command and organise when needed. I also understand the need to encourage and push the team to stay on top of our game."

"There are many things that go on that people from the outside don’t understand, but as a person I understand myself, I know how I operate, I know when I need a break, I know when I’m having a breakdown, I know when my body says 'no' and when it says 'yes', so I have to listen to it."

"Before achieving everything that we achieved, we set goals and said this is what we want at this time. And we achieved everything, every goal that was set."

"I think it is very important that you do not neglect either and if you think you are a great footballer you also dont know where football can take you so you need something to fall back on, which is a career."

"Barriers are only in the mind. If you truly want something, do whatever it takes. Invest in yourself if you’re not getting the support you desire."

"When I talk about mental health, I’m not saying I wanted to kill myself. You get tired as a person, that’s why there is sick leave, and people go on vacations, I needed that."

"There is always something that feels unfulfilled when I wake up."

"Indeed, as female footballers, we do value education highly because it's simple: We are not paid enough to make a living out of the game, whereas our male counterparts can play, say, for 10 or even five years and make enough money in order to make a living if they use their funds properly. So, there is a huge gap in terms of we know that we are not being paid well and the money that we make cannot sustain us for the rest of our lives or for a longer period of time, so we opt to navigate towards education. That is so that we are able to secure full-time jobs on the side, or even after football. We need that more than our male counterparts."

"I own it because it gives me so much pride in being a woman in a space mostly deemed as a men's sport."

"Oh, I love those people. They treat me like a human being – like a girl. Let me tell you when we go and do shoots, they just hire a whole makeup crew to pamper me and I love that."

"I always strive to better myself and give my best on and off court."

"Netball opens a lot of doors and it’s helped me become a person I never thought I would be."

"Every girl has to be strong and push forward, never listen to any negativity. People will hate and love, you must face it all. That’s life, it’s never easy."

"My football career started at the age of 13. I was very hyped and excited for football, playing for the national team and my team. I was just enjoying the fact that I’m playing football."

"It’s important to remember where you come from and to use your success to uplift others. I want these young players to know that their dreams are valid. They must know that with hard work and dedication, they can achieve anything."

"Extremely difficult, I'm gonna be honest, we all know as athletes, it's very, very difficult to come back from an injury. For the most part, it knocks down the mental side of things but I had to be tough on myself and be like, you gotta get back into the game, that's what I love to do."

"Personally, it has been talked about for so many years that women's football needs to be professionalised, but at this point, I am going to reserve my comments and will only believe it when I see it practically happening. I've heard it mentioned so many times that I don't believe anything they say about the intention anymore."

"Being a radiologist helped me because I knew that if I gave myself enough time to recover, there'd be less chance of me getting injured again."

"Had I not quit my job, I wouldn't be here because I was working in the deep rural areas. It was very hard to train. I was training with the boys."

"Life has been amazing, spending time with my family and that’s what I’ve been longing for many years, as you know as a professional athlete you travel a lot ... you don’t get time to sit down. I don’t know if players talk about it, I’m taking time to take care of my mental health."

"I love the face beats, lipsticks, eyelashes – just everything about it. I love everything about it. You know what, Puma, let’s just end it there because I can just go on and on about Puma!"

"Imagine what the national team could achieve if women’s football was fully professional. It would change everything."

"The first thing you need as a footballer is a ball. Then you need shoes. If you have that, you’ve got the confidence to play. That changes everything."

"I demand more of myself and my teammates. I want to win things – this is where my teammates and I are supposed to show up. This is where we are supposed to show the world who we are, right?"

"Development is key. 100%."

"It all starts with development. The earlier kids have access to proper gear and training, the better their chances of making it. If brands invest now, they’re not only changing lives, they’re strengthening our national teams, our leagues, our future."

"Not everyone gets a chance to play at the highest level of sport, especially when you are from a rural area like where I come from."

"I’ve made it out of an under-resourced area, and they can too. The impossible is nothing."

"I am thankful for everyone who have contributed to my growth, good and bad, and I am ready for the new challenges ahead of me that requires new focus."

"Through education, you can achieve your goals."

"Leadership for me is about guiding, not controlling."

"Netball opens up a lot of opportunities. For example, it can help you further your studies by getting a high school or higher institution bursary. Besides that, you can play abroad, which is a dream come true for many. Above all, you can make a living out of what you love."

"Being captain isn’t just about wearing the armband, it’s about connecting with people, understanding what motivates them, and creating an environment where everyone can perform at their best."

"Not everyone will represent their country at national level. Education is the best thing you can fall back on if things don’t work out the way you want them to. Let’s get that qualification!"

"I have learnt a lot from it, from playing against the best players in the world. It is an experience that no one can take away from me."